Spain awaits fish opinion

A European Court of Justice (ECJ) advocate- general on Thursday (19 January) is to give his opinion on Spain's challenge to a 2003 European Council fishing agreement.

The deal based current fishing allowances on those of the period 1998-2002 - a time at which Spanish fishing rights were severely limited.

These restrictions stemmed from Spain's 1986 EU accession agreement, which was designed to stop other member states worrying that a huge Spanish fishing fleet would scoop up all their fish. The restrictions were initially meant to expire at the end of 2003.

The ECJ will still have to produce a final judgement, but in the majority of cases it follows the advocate- general's opinion.

If the court ultimately decides in favour of Madrid, the EU will find itself not only drawing up a replacement regulation but also financially compensating Spain for the fishing effort lost since 2004.